For the past year, Charlene Howarth and Matt Hardie had looked for answers to why their beautiful little girl Rhianna died in such horrific circumstances.

They had been told it was a freak accident - but the couple's search for the truth turned to fury yesterday when they heard the 10-monthold's death could have been avoided.

Charlene told of her anger after hearing at Rhianna's inquest that a similar tragedy four years ago killed 30-year-old Sharon Minister, but warnings about dodgy thermostats were never passed on to councils by the Government.

The 22-year-old said: "We were shocked when we found out someone knew about the other incident and yet didn't tell anyone about it.

"It makes us so angry, more should have been done to stop it. If it had, Rhianna would still be alive. But they thought it was a freak accident, a one-off.

"The coroner said we are all sitting on a ticking time-bomb. How electric thermostats and domestic hot water systems with a five to 10 years life span can be installed on a 'fit and forget basis' is an outrage."

Charlene also told of the night their happy family life was shattered in November 2006 by the boiler tragedy. It was their first night in a new council house.

She put Rhianna and her sister Emilly to bed then fell asleep with Matt, 22. The couple heard an almighty bang and piercing screams. Charlene said: "We had no idea what had happened. The bedroom looked like a sauna and we waded through, following the sound of Emilly's crying.

"I grabbed Emilly, who was shaken up but looked unharmed, and Matt picked up Rhianna. I asked if she was OK and when Matt replied I'd never heard such fear in his voice."

Charlene looked at her daughter and almost screamed. The baby was an unnatural white, her skin melting and her cotton socks hung from her feet by threads. She said: "It was like something from a horror film. She whimpered and winced in extreme pain and I could see her mouth and nose were swelling.

"I picked her up and ran to the cold kitchen tap. My hands were shaking as I splashed water on her injuries. Clouds of steam rose off her body and white skin gathered at the plughole."

Rhianna was rushed to hospital. She suffered 95 per cent burns and the only part of her tiny body unharmed was where her nappy had been.

After the inquest at Taunton, Somerset, Charlene gave reporters a note with graphic details of her daughter's injuries. She said she wanted everyone to know the devastating effects of such an avoidable accident and the full extent of helpless Rhianna's suffering.

She wrote: "Her nerves and hair follicles had been destroyed."

Charlene said if the youngster had survived she would have been brain damaged. She added: "Rhianna's feet and hands would have been removed on December 13."

Their tiny girl battled for life for three weeks at Bristol's Children's Hospital. Charlene and Matt clung to the slim hopes she may pull through, but it soon became clear that was unlikely.

Charlene said: "Each morning we walked through the ward to Rhianna's room. There was mothers cradling their babies, feeding them, stroking their heads, clutching their hands. I could barely look at them without crying.

"We were allowed in her room but couldn't touch her. Her eyes were swollen shut. We sat at her side, reading her favourite story about a lamb playing hide and seek."

On December 12, 2006, the hope their precious daughter would live vanished. Charlene whispered to her: "You've been a good girl for the last nine month." Then she slipped away.

After her death, Charlene and Matt tried to lead a normal life for the sake of their other daughter Emilly, three. They had another girl Kadie, now six weeks old.

Little Emilly is still haunted by the horrors of that fateful night. Charlene said: "When we bathed Kadie the first time she screamed her head off and was frantic, asking me to get her out. She is now scared of getting in the bath."

Charlene hopes talking about Rhianna's death will prevent any further tragedies. She said: "The inquest has been important on a public level.

"Now more people know what happened and steps can be taken to stop it happening again."

OLD THERMOSTAT CAUSED TRAGEDY

WHAT HAPPENED

The faulty thermostat in the immersion heater failed to cut out and the water continued to be heated to boiling point.

It was forced into the plastic cold water tank in the loft which eventually spilt with the heat and poured scalding water through the ceiling.

Homes built or heating systems installed since 2004 must have a new safety thermostat.

In older homes they are only put in if the householder raises the alarm.

THE WARNING SIGNS

Extremely hot water coming out of the hot water taps

Excessive noise or a bubbling sound from the hot water cylinder

Hot water coming out of certain cold water taps (some storage cisterns also feed cold water taps in the bathroom)

Steam/moisture in the loft

HOW TO AVOID THIS

The Health and Safety Executive advise householders with hot water systems which are more than 10 years old with an immersion heater and a plastic cold water storage tank in the loft to fit a safety cut-out device independent of the immersion heater thermostat and to ensure the loft tank is well supported.